Thursday, June 30, 2016

Last week, we travelled to Green Bay, WI for our 2nd major of the season - the Go Bowling PWBA Players Championship at Ashwaubenon Bowling Alley.

Having bowled the USBC Masters and Queens at this same center last year, it was nice to be back. The proprietor Dave and General Manager Matt are amazing hosts! Plus Joel from the Greater Green Bay CVB always has a warm welcomes for all of the pros.

In between the PWBA Greater Detroit Open and this event, I was able to go home for a few days and rest and relax.

I also drilled a few of the new EBI balls as well - The Columbia 300 Swerve GT, the Ebonite Game Breaker Phenom and the Track Heat Xtreme. I added these new balls, as well as my two new Ebonite Warrior Supremes to my arsenal.

This week, we bowled on a 42' pattern using ice oil. I drilled a new Hammer Rebel prior to the start of competition in order to deal with the hooking heads that I might face towards the end of the block.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get anything going on the lanes and had a very disappointing week.

However, it was great to cheer on my roommate and Columbia 300 teammate Clara Guerrero. She bowled phenomenal all week long and qualified for the live TV finals as well as another previous taped show from the PWBA Lincoln Open.

I hope all of you were able to tune in to CBS Sports Network on Sunday for the live finals. Clara put on a show and ran away with the title defeating Liz Johnson 175-199. HUGE congratulations to Clara!!! I am so proud of you!!!

Now begins a crazy stretch of the PWBA Tour. Immediately after the PWBA Players Championship, the EBI women flew from Green Bay, WI straight to Bowl Expo in Las Vegas, NV to help promote our amazing brand for a few days.

We had a lot of fun during the product showcase. This is a giant demo where all of the pro shops could come and demo all of the new EBI balls for this upcoming season.

The next day, we further promoted Team EBI and the Columbia 300 brand at the Bowl Expo Convention. I also made it over to the High 5 Gear and Vise booths.

We then took a red eye straight to the next PWBA Tour stop in Lexington, KY.

After Lexington, KY, I will then fly straight to Arlington, TX for 3 days of intense training at the ITRC for our yearly Team USA training camp. Immediately following camp, I will be flying on to the next stop of the PWBA Tour in Rochester, NY. It should be a fun, but a crazy few weeks. Can't wait!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Last week, I travelled to Super Bowl in Canton, MI for the
PWBA Greater Detroit Open. Prior to the event, I had the pleasure of returning
to the Detroit Athletic Club for an Ebonite International sponsored pro-am
event. The DAC is a top-notch member-only exclusive athletic club, which
features 8 bowling lanes in its facility. I was thrilled to be invited back by
Tom Reaume of the DAC, as last year’s event was so much fun!

I flew in and went straight to the Motown Museum, as Tom had
arranged a tour for us. We learned more about the history of Motown music and
Hitsville U.S.A. I did not realize how many big hits came out of Motown! Fun
fact…Beyoncé, was noted to have been there just an hour prior to our arrival,
as she was performing at Ford Field that same night in downtown Detroit.

After the tour, we headed to one of Detroit’s newest hot
spots - Selden Standard for an outdoor patio dinner, followed by admiring the
views from the new 7th floor grill at the top of the DAC.

The next morning, we were pampered with a massage before
participating in the pro-am event that evening. The pro-am event was very
successful, as many participated and everyone seemed to have a great time! HUGE
thank you to Tom Reaume of the DAC for the gracious hospitality! It is always a
privilege to be able to showcase our talent in in environment such as the DAC.

We then started the PWBA Greater Detroit Open. This week, we
competed on a 44’ oil pattern. After practice session, I drilled a new Track
Cyborg to fit in between my Track Paradox and Ebonite Warrior, as both balls
looked great on the pattern.

I started out strong the first block of qualifying shooting
games of 257, 214, 223, 212, 211 and 243 for +160. I started the block using my
Track Paradox and after game 2, switched to the new Track Cyborg and Paradox
Pearl. I then finished the block with my Ebonite Warrior the last two games.
This put me tied for 6th place overall.

During the break, I decided to drill another ball and this
time I drilled the New Ebonite Warrior Supreme. I again started block 2 using
my Paradox and shot 215. I then switched to my newly drilled Warrior Supreme
and quickly fell in love with this ball! I used it the rest of the block,
shooting games of 228, 237, 258, 233 and 204 for +175 that block and +335
overall. This put me in 4th place going into the top 32 casher’s
round of qualifying.

During the casher’s round, the lanes were definitely a
little tricky. I shot 243 to start using the New Warrior Supreme and then
struggled a bit in the transition shooting 183 and 196. I switched to my
Paradox Pearl and changed my angles a bit to then shoot 226, 223 and 238 to
qualify in 4th place finally making the next cut to the top 12 for
match play.

Once the cut is made to the top 12, all of the odd numbered
qualifiers (1,3,5,7,9 and11) go into a bracket and all of the even numbered
qualifiers (2,4,6,8,10 and 12) go into a different bracket. For matchplay,
players only compete against their own bracket the entire time. We bowl 6 games
of round robin matchplay with the winner of each match earning 30 bonus pins.
After 6 games, the top qualifier in each bracket automatically qualifies for
the TV show. Then the No. 2, 3 and 4 seeds in each bracket bowl a traditional
stepladder finals (No. 3 bowls the No.4 seed and the winner bowls the No. 2
seed) and the winner of each stepladder finals also advances to the TV finals.

Going into matchplay, I drilled another Ebonite Warrior
Supreme with a similar layout to the original, just with a bigger extra hole
and put more surface on it to start. My goal was to obviously lead my bracket
and earn the automatic seed onto the TV show. However, that didn’t end up
working out as Rocio Restrepo bowled phenomenal in our bracket and pulled away
from the field.

I went 4-2 in matchplay and shot a big 257 the last game,
leaving a stubborn 9 pin the second shot in the 10th frame to just
miss the No. 2 seed by 1 pin.

In the stepladder finals, I bowled against one of my
roommates Sandra Gongora in the opening match. The match was very close as we
both were bowling well. In the end, I needed a mark and good count to win and
struck out defeating Sandra 235-221. I then faced Tannya Roumimper from
Indonesia. The winner of this match would make the TV finals and join Rocio Restrepo
from Colombia and Jane Li Sin from Malaysia.

During the match, I couldn’t miss on the left lane, but had
some issues on the right lane with my ball starting to hook early. I was using the newer, dull Warrior Supreme and then in the
middle of the game, I switched to my shinier Warrior Supreme on the right lane
and managed to double, but left a ring 10 pin to shut out my chances of
winning. I ended up losing to Tannya 206-244, coming in 5th place
overall.

Although I am very disappointed in not making the TV show, I
am also very proud of how I competed last week, especially with all of the
personal issues I have going on. For those that are not aware, I made a public
statement explaining that I had a miscarriage during the previous stop - the PWBA Lincoln Open. It
is the second time we’ve lost a baby in one year. I almost didn’t bowl in
Detroit, but I’m glad I stayed strong and pulled through it. Thank you to
everyone for the unending support! It means more than you could ever know!

Be sure to follow along at www.pwba.com and www.xtraframe.tv for the start of our second major of the PWBA Tour season – The Go
Bowling PWBA Players Championship, which starts this Thursday at Ashwaubenon
Bowling Alley in Green Bay, WI. Until then!

Last week, I travelled to Super Bowl in Canton, MI for the
PWBA Greater Detroit Open. Prior to the event, I had the pleasure of returning
to the Detroit Athletic Club for an Ebonite International sponsored pro-am
event. The DAC is a top-notch member-only exclusive athletic club, which
features 8 bowling lanes in its facility. I was thrilled to be invited back by
Tom Reaume of the DAC, as last year’s event was so much fun!

I flew in and went straight to the Motown Museum, as Tom had
arranged a tour for us. We learned more about the history of Motown music and
Hitsville U.S.A. I did not realize how many big hits came out of Motown! Fun
fact…Beyoncé, was noted to have been there just an hour prior to our arrival,
as she was performing at Ford Field that same night in downtown Detroit.

After the tour, we headed to one of Detroit’s newest hot
spots - Selden Standard for an outdoor patio dinner, followed by admiring the
views from the new 7th floor grill at the top of the DAC.

The next morning, we were pampered with a massage before
participating in the pro-am event that evening. The pro-am event was very
successful, as many participated and everyone seemed to have a great time! HUGE
thank you to Tom Reaume of the DAC for the gracious hospitality! It is always a
privilege to be able to showcase our talent in in environment such as the DAC.

We then started the PWBA Greater Detroit Open. This week, we
competed on a 44’ oil pattern. After practice session, I drilled a new Track
Cyborg to fit in between my Track Paradox and Ebonite Warrior, as both balls
looked great on the pattern.

I started out strong the first block of qualifying shooting
games of 257, 214, 223, 212, 211 and 243 for +160. I started the block using my
Track Paradox and after game 2, switched to the new Track Cyborg and Paradox
Pearl. I then finished the block with my Ebonite Warrior the last two games.
This put me tied for 6th place overall.

During the break, I decided to drill another ball and this
time I drilled the New Ebonite Warrior Supreme. I again started block 2 using
my Paradox and shot 215. I then switched to my newly drilled Warrior Supreme
and quickly fell in love with this ball! I used it the rest of the block,
shooting games of 228, 237, 258, 233 and 204 for +175 that block and +335
overall. This put me in 4th place going into the top 32 casher’s
round of qualifying.

During the casher’s round, the lanes were definitely a
little tricky. I shot 243 to start using the New Warrior Supreme and then
struggled a bit in the transition shooting 183 and 196. I switched to my
Paradox Pearl and changed my angles a bit to then shoot 226, 223 and 238 to
qualify in 4th place finally making the next cut to the top 12 for
match play.

Once the cut is made to the top 12, all of the odd numbered
qualifiers (1,3,5,7,9 and11) go into a bracket and all of the even numbered
qualifiers (2,4,6,8,10 and 12) go into a different bracket. For matchplay,
players only compete against their own bracket the entire time. We bowl 6 games
of round robin matchplay with the winner of each match earning 30 bonus pins.
After 6 games, the top qualifier in each bracket automatically qualifies for
the TV show. Then the No. 2, 3 and 4 seeds in each bracket bowl a traditional
stepladder finals (No. 3 bowls the No.4 seed and the winner bowls the No. 2
seed) and the winner of each stepladder finals also advances to the TV finals.

Going into matchplay, I drilled another Ebonite Warrior
Supreme with a similar layout to the original, just with a bigger extra hole
and put more surface on it to start. My goal was to obviously lead my bracket
and earn the automatic seed onto the TV show. However, that didn’t end up
working out as Rocio Restrepo bowled phenomenal in our bracket and pulled away
from the field.

I went 4-2 in matchplay and shot a big 257 the last game,
leaving a stubborn 9 pin the second shot in the 10th frame to just
miss the No. 2 seed by 1 pin.

In the stepladder finals, I bowled against one of my
roommates Sandra Gongora in the opening match. The match was very close as we
both were bowling well. In the end, I needed a mark and good count to win and
struck out defeating Sandra 235-221. I then faced Tannya Roumimper from
Indonesia. The winner of this match would make the TV finals and join Rocio Restrepo
from Colombia and Jane Li Sin from Malaysia.

During the match, I couldn’t miss on the left lane, but had
some issues on the right lane with my ball starting to hook early. I was using the newer, dull Warrior Supreme and then in the
middle of the game, I switched to my shinier Warrior Supreme on the right lane
and managed to double, but left a ring 10 pin to shut out my chances of
winning. I ended up losing to Tannya 206-244, coming in 5th place
overall.

Although I am very disappointed in not making the TV show, I
am also very proud of how I competed last week, especially with all of the
personal issues I have going on. For those that are not aware, I made a public
statement explaining that I had a miscarriage during the previous stop - the PWBA Lincoln Open. It
is the second time I’ve lost a baby in one year. I almost didn’t bowl in
Detroit, but I’m glad I stayed strong and pulled thought it. Thank you to
everyone for the unending support! It means more than you could ever know!

Be sure to follow along at www.pwba.com and www.xtraframe.tv for the start of our second major of the PWBA Tour season – The Go
Bowling PWBA Players Championship, which starts this Thursday at Ashwaubenon
Bowling Alley in Green Bay, WI. Until then!

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

After the USBC Queens event, I hit the road for three PWBA tournaments in a row. Unfortunately the PWBA Wichita Open and the PWBA Lincoln Open did not go as planned. I did not cash in either event.

In Wichita, I shot +13 the first 6 games and +10 the second block of qualifying for +23 overall. I just couldn't seem to knock all 10 pins down that day, coming in 53rd place overall.

After the PWBA Wichita Open, Clara Guerrero and I held a clinic at West Acres Bowling Center. Everyone that attended seemed to have a great time and learned a lot.

My roommates and I stayed in Wichita for a few days before heading to our next stop in Lincoln, NE. Prior to leaving Wichita, we were able to practice at the Wichita State University campus. The bowling center is amazing and I truly appreciate Coach Lewis and Coach Vadakin for the tips and for allowing me to utilize the facility.

We also were able to experience a little bit of the Wichita River Festival that was going on while we were in town. We had some amazing fair-like food and enjoyed great company.

Then we headed off 4 hours on the road to Lincoln, NE. Unfortunately, I had a couple of visits to the ER while there. Although I did bowl in the event, I was definitely not fully myself and missed cashing again. This was very frustrating as the pattern was low scoring, which is usually my strong suite. I bowled a big last 2 games - 227 and 247 to try and sneak in, but unfortunately missed the cut to the top 32 by 28 pins.

BIG congratulations to my roommate Clara Guerrero for making the TV show as the No. 2 seed! Can't wait for her TV show taping in Green Bay, WI.

After the event, we then travelled 13 hours by car to Austin, TX to Clara's house. We had a great practices session the one full day we were in town.

I am now flying to Detroit, MI for a fun Ebonite International event at the Detroit Athletic Club and then will begin the PWBA Detroit Open later this week.

Be sure to stay tuned to www.pwba.com for up-to-date information on the PWBA Tour and watch all of the upcoming action LIVE on www.xtraframe.tv starting Thursday!

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Last week, we had our first major of the 2016 PWBA Tour season - the USBC Queens event held at the Orleans Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.

This is definitely one of my favorite tournaments of the year, as I love the competitiveness of the bracket matchplay format. At this tournament five years previous, I also won my first Major title of my professional career in Syracuse, NY.

The tournament starts with three 5-game blocks of qualifying over 3 days. Two of the blocks are on fresh oil and one of the blocks is on burn (the lanes are not re-oiled after the previous squad.) After the 15 games of qualifying the field is then cut to the top 63 players, plus last year's defending champion, Liz Johnson, for a double-elimination 3-game total pinfall match play finals.

At the USBC Queens, we bowled on a 40 foot oil pattern using fire oil conditioner.

I was on A squad and after a ugly 179 start, I brought is back and shot games of 222, 213, 235 and 229 for +78 on the day. I used a Hammer Scandal, pin up with no hole for the entire block.

The next day, we again bowled on fresh oil. I started out strong, shooting games of 224 and 229, but then got a little lost and couldn't match up the rest of the day, shooting 194, 182 and 205 for +112 overall for the 10 games. This put me out of the cut going into the last block of qualifying on the burn squad.

Luckily, the next day on the burn, I matched up quickly using my trusty Columbia 300 Oath and shot games of 223, 278, 214, 194 and 255 for +164 on the day and +276 overall, which jumped me into 32nd position. The cut to make the top 64 was +185.

After the great day of bowling, we celebrated by going down to the Las Vegas strip for some amazing food by famous chef Gordon Ramsey at BurGr. We walked around a bit and enjoyed the Bellagio water show before heading back to the Orleans casino.

After taking a look at the bracket, I had a rough road to go through.

My first match, which is one of the most crucial to win in this event, was against USBC Hall of Famer Carolyn Dorin Ballard. I used my Hammer Scandal to shoot 247 against her 206. Then shot 221 to her 217. I was up 45 pins going into the last game of the match and knew I needed to keep striking to win. I shot 247 and won the match 715-616.

My next opponent was tournament leader Birgit Poppler from Germany. She absolutely dominated all of qualifying. I bowled against her on the burn, which was to my disadvantage due to her higher rev rate. I used my Columbia 300 Oath and only shot 203 the first game to her 244. I then shot another 203 and she struggled shooting 188. Being down 26 pins going into the last game, I knew I needed to bowl well and keep the ball on line. The match came down to the 10th frame, where if I struck out, I would force her to mark and unfortunately I left a 10 pin. I ended up losing the match 617-648.

This put me into the loser's bracket early, which is never a good thing in this format. I bowled my next match against Hollyann Johansen. I used two Hammer Scandals to shoot games of 238 to her 191. Then shot 229 to her 151 and ended the match with a 280 game to win 747-542.

My next match, I bowled against Brittany Smith again on the burn. I shot games of 217, 228 and 204 and lost the match 649-729, which ended my run at the USBC Queens. Although I was disappointed, I was still happy with how I physically threw the ball. I came in the 25th-32nd position out of 256 bowlers.

After being eliminated from the tournament, I decided to watch the final day of matchplay and was asked to commentate on Xtra Frame for the 4-person bracket that decides the final 3 players advancing to the TV finals. It was a lot of fun to get a first hand view of the exciting finals matchup.

Congratulations to Bernice Lim for winning the event!

Also, be sure to tune in to CBS Sports Network on Tuesday, June 7th at 9pm EST to watch my roommate Sandra Gongora go for her first PWBA title!

-Sunday, June 5th from 6-8pm at West Acres Bowling Center in Wichita, KS
-Wednesday, June 8th from 7-9pm at Sun Valley Lanes in Lincoln, NE
-Sun., July 10th from 4:30-6:30pm at AMF Gates Lanes in Rochester, NY
-Friday, July 29th from 1-3pm at 300 Bowl in Conroe, Texas